Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Dave Cullen, Liz Harrington, Lizzy Kelly, Graham Lawrence and Lin Martin-Haugh.

There were no declarations of interest.

At this juncture, the Mayor advised that he would be taking an urgent Part II report on the Appointment of the Chief Executive as the matter could not wait until the next meeting.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 22 May 2019 and the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 12 June 2019.

It was RESOLVED

(i)            that the Minutes of the Annual Council meeting of 22 May 2019 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor subject to the following amendments;

Item 3 – paragraph 6, delete ‘similar sentiments to those expressed by the mover and seconder of the motion’.

Item 7 – Borough Council Elections 2019 – reference to ‘political parties’ in the third paragraph should be changed to ‘a political party’.

(ii)          that the Minutes of the Special Council meeting on 12 June 2019 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. 

To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before Council.

The Mayor informed the Council that due to the change in venue for this meeting he would be showing the film made by the pupils of Woolenwick School at the next meeting as part of the presentation on the Cultural Strategy.

The Mayor then informed the meeting that since the last meeting, he had undertaken a number of engagements in the town and referred to several highlights including attending a number of school leavers’ assemblies and the opening of Costco.

At this juncture, last year’s Mayor, Councillor Margaret Notley was invited to address the meeting. Cllr Notley was pleased to inform Council that the final figure for the amount raised for her Mayoral charities had increased to £15,804.24. She thanked all those who had supported the charities during her Mayoral Year.

To receive a presentation on Public Health in Stevenage.

This item was withdrawn and would be presented to Members at a future All Member Briefing.

None.

None received

None.

None received.

None.

None received.

In accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders, the Leader of the Opposition shall be given the opportunity to raise one matter relevant to the Borough that has arisen since the last meeting of the Council. The Leader of the Council shall then have the opportunity to advise the Council of matters relevant to the Borough that have arisen since the last meeting.

The Leader of the Opposition expressed concern regarding the recent announcement that Waitrose would be closing the Stevenage Old Town store and asked the Leader of the Council whether consideration had been given to the ramifications for the Town.

In reply, the Leader of the Council agreed that she was extremely saddened to hear of the announcement of the closure and stated that it was a huge disappointment for Stevenage to lose such an established brand that had played a key role in the community over many years.  She agreed that this was a real concern for residents and businesses in the Old Town.

The Leader advised Council that she had requested an urgent meeting with Waitrose to understand their plans for the future of the site and to open dialogue regarding possible options to relocate the much valued Post Office within the High Street and whether there were options to have a ‘Little Waitrose’ store within the Town.  An update with the outcomes would be circulated to Members as soon as possible following the meeting.

The Leader advised that with 97 jobs potentially at risk, this was a time of real uncertainty for Waitrose staff and thoughts were with them at this unsettling time.

Council was informed that the Environment and Economy Select Committee would be scrutinising the provision of Post Offices within the Town as part of this year’s work programme and would also take this matter forward as part of that review.

Due to the change of venue for this meeting, Council then received updates from the Leader on the following urgent items only:

·         Monkswood Traffic Incident  - following the horrendous incident on Monkswood Way, the Leader thanked the paramedics, nursing and hospital staff who had worked hard to respond to the incident and said that the Council’s thoughts were with those who had suffered injury and trauma as a result.  The Leader advised that concerns had previously been raised by Councillors and residents with the Police and Herts County Council and regular contact had been made regarding enforcement of speed restrictions in the area.  Council was informed that the Leader was working with the Police to consider how these events could be stopped in Stevenage.  An interim injunction was being applied for and then a longer term solution would be worked on including making the case for additional police resourcing in Stevenage.  All Members agreed that there were questions that needed to be answered by the Police in relation to this incident.

·         Daneshill Building Disruption – the Leader reported that early the previous day flooding had been identified in Daneshill House into an area within the building which housed key electrical infrastructure.  As a result, a number of measures had been taken to stop the flow of water, shut down power in the location and ensure the safety of the building and those using it. Business continuity procedures had been operating during the incident. It was noted that Customer facing services were continuing to operate including  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Robin Parker, CC:

“That Council notes that:

(a)          A number of other local authorities have adopted the policy of planting or encouraging wild flowers, and other alternative methods of managing highway verges, which improve biodiversity without increasing the cost of highway verge maintenance.

(b)          Growing concern about the possible health impacts and effect on biodiversity by the widespread use of glyphosate weed killers.

With the aim of improving biodiversity and the street scene, along with reducing any undesirable environmental impacts, Council agrees to ask for an officer report within the next 6 months about the feasibility of a change in the policy on highways verge maintenance and cutting, to allow many further areas to be left free for wildflower self and initiated seeding, where appropriate, safe and with particular need to ensure safety and visibility, including financial implications and consequences for the current Agency agreement with HCC.”

Councillor Robin Parker advised that he would defer his Motion until the next meeting of the Council.

In accordance with Standing Orders, written answers to the following questions will be tabled at the Council meeting:

(A)      Question from Councillor Stephen Booth

“What costs have been incurred and how many staff working hours were disrupted during Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 June when online access was limited across the Council's workforce and the Civica payments system was unavailable, following the previous weekend's relocation of the CCTV control room at Cavendish Road and the unavailability of the hosted desktop system from 6 pm on Friday 14 June?”

(B)      Question from Councillor Robin Parker, CC

“Will SBC consider webcasting, electronic timing indicators and electronic voting at SBC meetings, similar to those now in use at HCC?”

(C)      Question from Councillor Graham Snell

“Does the Council have any plans to refurbish and repair the High Street entrance to King George Park which is in very poor condition and an important access point into the park and the Millennium Garden?”

(D)      Question from Councillor Tom Wren

“On the SBC website a policy is stated that when a tree is felled by the council, where possible, a replacement tree will be planted nearby. Please could figures be provided for the last 3 years of the number of trees felled and replanted in the town? “

(E)      Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness

“How much did the Council spend in the last financial year on food and drink for (a) Councillors (b) Mayoral events (c) Civic Events (non-mayoral)?”

Council received five questions.  The responses to the five questions were circulated at the Meeting and are appended to the minutes.

A.           Question from Councillor Steven Booth

In response to a supplementary question from Cllr Booth, Cllr Broom advised that he would ensure a satisfactory response be sent to Cllr Booth.

B.           Question from Councillor Robin Parker

The Leader of the Council advised Cllr Parker that she would ask officers to look at the possibility of installing a traffic light timing system in the Council Chamber as soon as possible.

C.           Question from Councillor Graham Snell

Councillor Snell advised he would submit his supplementary question in writing after the meeting.

D.           Question from Councillor Tom Wren

In response to a supplementary question, Cllr John Gardner advised that if the funding was available the Council would plant as many replacement trees as possible. Tree felling was only used as a last resort.

E.           Question from Councillor Andy McGuinness

In response to a supplementary question, the Leader of the Council advised that the provision of refreshments before Council meetings was a welfare issue particularly for those Members coming to meetings straight from work. This was an issue that had previously been reviewed by Scrutiny but could be looked at again if Members were of the view it would be helpful.

To receive updates from the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees on the recent activities of those committees.

The Chair of the Community Select Committee gave an update on the work of the Committee. She advised that the main area of work for this year for the Committee related to access to the sport and leisure provision in the Town as the Council tried to encourage a healthier lifestyle. This scrutiny review would include a visit to Fairlands Lakes later in the summer to review the leisure provision at the lakes.

The Chair of the Environment and Economy Select Committee advised that the work programme for the Committee included Neighbourhood Centres, Post Office provision in the Town, a joint scrutiny with the Community Select Committee on Fairlands Valley Park and also monitoring the resolution on the climate change emergency.

It was RESOLVED that the updates are noted.

To note the annual report from the three Scrutiny Committees on their activities during the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

The Council considered the Annual Scrutiny report which summarised the work undertaken throughout 2018/19 by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees, and which outlined the Work Programme for the three committees for 2019/20.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED:

1.         that the work undertaken by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Select Committees during 2018/19 is noted;

2.         that Members of the three Scrutiny Committees are commended for the work undertaken during the year;

3.         that the Scrutiny Officer, Stephen Weaver, be thanked for his work and support to the  Scrutiny function and the Scrutiny Members.

The report circulated at Item 13 was considered by the Executive on 10 July 2019 when the following recommendation to Council was agreed:

“2.8     That Executive recommend to Council the approval of budget of £1.5million for Registered Provider grants, in line with the reasoning in Paragraph 4.3.4. of the report.”

Council considered a report which had previously been presented to the Executive on 10 July 2019 in relation to the 4^th Quarter Capital Monitoring Report.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the budget of £1.5million for Registered Provider grants, in line with the reasoning in paragraph 4.3.4 of the report is approved.

The report circulated at Item 14 was considered by the Executive on 10 July 2019 when the following recommendation to Council was agreed:

“2.1     That Council adopts the Stevenage Borough Council draft Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles, as attached at Appendix A to the report.”

Council considered a report which had previously been presented to both the General Purposes Committee and the Executive, in relation to the Gambling Act 2005 – Statement of Gambling Principles.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the draft Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles, as attached at Appendix A to the report is adopted.

To note the Minutes of the Audit Committee meetings held on 19 March 2019 and 11 June 2019.

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Audit Committee meetings held on 19 March 2019 and 11 June 2019 are noted.

To consider the following motions –

1.   That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.    That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.  That, under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 to 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.  That having considered the reasons for the following item being in Part II, it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighed the public interest in disclosure.

The Part II report circulated at Item 17 was considered by the Executive on 10 July 2019 when the following recommendation to Council was agreed:

“2.4     That Executive recommends to Full Council approval of General Fund Capital budgets detailed in the Part II report for the year 2020/21 to facilitate the General Fund aspect of the development.”

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the General Fund Capital budgets detailed in the Part II report for the year 2020/21 to facilitate the General Fund aspect of the development is approved.

To consider a Part II Officer report concerning the appointment of the Chief Executive.

[REPORT TO FOLLOW]

It was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the appointment of Mr Matthew Partridge with effect from 25 July 2019 as:

Chief Executive

Head of Paid Service

Returning Officer

Electoral Registration Officer

is approved.